Foldable receptacle and blank therefor



May 12, 1970- 1.. c. GISH FOLDABLE RECEPTACLE AND BLANK THEREFOR 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1969 F/Gl.

INVENTOR LYMAN C. G/SH ATTYS May 12, 1970 c. GISH FOLDABLE RECEP'I'ACLEAND BLANK THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan, 6, 1969 INVENTOR LYMANC.G/SH

M BY/MajA ZW ATT Y'S Ma 12, 1970 c. GISH 3,511,432

, FOLDABLE RECEPTACLE AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed Jan. 6, 1969 3Sheets-Sheet 5 F/GB.

INVENTOR LYMAN C. G/SH v BYJW TTY S United States Patent 3,511,432FOLDABLE RECEPTACLE AND- BLANK THEREFOR Lyman C. Gish, Rittman, Ohio,assignor to Packaging Corporation of America, Evanston, 11]., acorporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 6, 1969, Ser. No. 789,175 Int. Cl.B65d /22 US. Cl. 229-39 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A foldablereceptacle and blank therefor are provided wherein at least one surfaceof the receptacle has a shadow box configuration. Portions of thereceptable delimiting the shadow box configuration are inself-interlocking relation and do not rely upon an accommodated productto retain said interlocking relation.

Background of the invention Various receptacles embodying a shadow boxfeature have heretofore been proposed; however, because of certaindesign characteristics they have been beset with one or more of thefollowing shortcomings: (a) the receptacle is of complex and costlyconstruction; (b) it relies upon the accommodated product to retain theshadow box configuration; (c) it is awkward and diflicult to set up; and(d) it fails to provide adequate protection for the accommodatedproduct.

Summary of the invention Thus, it is an object of this invention toprovide a receptacle of the type described which avoids the aforenotedshortcomings of the prior structures.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a receptacle whichis attractive in appearance, is rigid, yet inexpensive, in construction,and is capable of being readily set up either manually or with automaticequipment.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a blank forthe improved receptacle which is of simple configuration and involvesonly a minimum of material Waste.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a receptaclewhich snugly accommodates a product in an eye-appealing manner andprovides protection for said product, yet permits same to be observedfrom opposite sides of the receptacle.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention a foldable receptacleis provided which has at least one surface thereof of shadow boxconfiguration. The receptacle includes a plurality of opposed wallpanels which are fo-ldably interconnected and have the correspondinginner edges thereof delimiting said one surface. Foldably connected tothe surface-forming edges of first opposed wall panels are first flapswhich extend convergently inwardly therefrom. To the correspondingsurface-forming edges of second opposed wall panels are foldablyconnected second flaps which likewise extend convergently inwardlytherefrom. The first and second flaps interlockingly engage one anotherand delimit an aperture which is recessed from said one surface andthrough which an accommodated product can be observed. Each of the firstand second flaps has foldably connected to the distal aperture-formingedge thereof an extension flap which is folded outwardly towards anadjacent Wall panel and behind the first-mentioned flap to which it isconnected.

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For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should bemade to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of blank for the improved receptacle.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank of FIG. 1 shown in the form of acollapsed tubular member.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end surface of thereceptacle shown in a partially set-up condition.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but showing the receptacle end surface in afurther state of partial set-up condition.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the end surface of thereceptacle in a fully set-up condition and producing a shadow boxconfiguration.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-'8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one form of the improved receptacle.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of blank.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 5, one formof the improved receptacle 10 is shown which is provided with a shadowbox configuration at opposite end surfaces thereof. A blank 11 forreceptacle 10 is shown in FIG. 1 and is preferably formed of paperboardof suitable point and finish. The blank 11 includes fourrectangularly-shaped wall panels 12, 13, 14 and 15 which are arranged inside-by-side relation and have the narrow sides thereof interconnectedby foldlines 16, 17 and 18, see FIG. 1. Connected by foldline 20 to oneof the endmost panels (panel 12 in the illustrated embodiment) is a glueflap 21 which is adapted to be bonded to the interior surface of panel15, when the receptacle is partially set up, so as to form a collapsedtubular member 22, as seen in FIG. 2. The configuration and size of thewall panels may vary from that shown and will depend upon the type andsize of the product being accommodated within the receptacle.

As aforementioned, the form of receptacle 10, shown in FIG. 9, has alike shadow box configuration or effect provided at opposite endsurfaces thereof, and therefore the structural details relative to onlyone of the end surfaces will be hereafter described. In blank 11, panels12 and 14 are of like rectangular configuration and are of greaterlength than panels 13 and 15, which are also of like rectangularconfiguration. Panels 12 and 14, it will be noted, are arranged inalternate relation with respect to panels 13 and 15 so that when thereceptacle is set up, panels 13 and 15 will be opposite one another aswill also be the case with panels 12 and 14.

Connected by foldlines 23 to the elongated side edges of panels 12 and14 are first flaps 24 and 25 which are of like configuration. The sideedges 24a and 25a of the respective flaps 24 and 25 extend convergentlyoutwardly from opposite ends of the foldline 23. The outer ends of theside edges 24a and 25a terminate at a foldline 26 which defines ashortened outer or distal edge of flap 24 or 25. Foldlines 23 and 26 aresubstantially parallel to one another.

Elongated first extension flaps 27 and 28 are connected by foldlines 26to the outer edges of flaps 24 and 25, respectively. Each flap 27 or 28is of like construction and has an overall length which is substantiallycoextensive With the foldline 23 between the respective wall panel andfirst flap. Foldably connected to the opposite end limits of theextension flap 27 or 28 are laterally projecting tabs 30. The oppositeend portions of each first extension flap 27 or 28 are provided withtransversely extending tonguelike portions 27a or 28a. One side of eachportion 27a or 28a conforms substantially to the angularity of theadjacent side edge 24a or 25a, of the flap 24 or 25 and is separatedtherefrom by a slit 31, see FIG. 1.

Connected by foldlines 32 to the elongated sides of wall panels 13 and15 are second flaps 33 and 34 which are of like construction. The sideedges 33a and 34a of each flap 33 or 34 are rounded or outwardly bowedand extend convergently outwardly from opposite ends of foldline 32.Foldlines 23 and 32 are axially aligned with respect to one another andcooperate to form a single foldline.

Connected by foldlines 35 to the shortened outer edges of flaps 33 and34 are second extension fiaps 36 and 37, respectively, which are of likeconfiguration. The length of each second extension flap 36 or 37 issubstantially coextensive with the foldline 35 and thus, a substantialspace 38 is provided between adjacent ends of the first and second flaps34-25 and 33-34 and the first and second extension flaps 27-28 and36-37.

In setting up the shadow box end of the receptacle, the collapsedtubular member 22 is erected so as to form a tube as seen in FIG. 3.Extension flaps 27 and 28 are then folded about foldlines 26 so thateach of them overlies the inner or concealed surface of the respectivefirst flap 24 and 25. When the first flaps and the respective extensionflaps are in such folded relation, the end portions 27a and 28a of eachextension flap and the tabs 30 carried thereby project beyond the sideedges 24a and 25a of the respective first flaps 24 and 25.

With the flaps 24-27 and 25-28 in such relatively folded condition, eachflap 24 or 25 is then folded in-e wardly and angularly downwardlyrelative to the respective wall panel 12 or 14 so that the tabs 30frictionally engage in face-to-face relation the interior surfaces ofthe,

wall panels 13 and 15.

Subsequent to the first flaps 24 and 25 being folded as indicated, thesecond extension flaps 36 and 37 are folded downwardly so as to overliethe interior or concealed surfaces of the respective second flaps 33 and34, see FIG. 4. With the second extension flaps so disposed, the secondflaps 33 and 34 are folded inwardly towards one another and thenangularly downwardly until the side edges 33a and 34a of the flaps 33and 34 snap in behind the adjacent side edges 24a and 25a of the flaps24 and 25, respectively. The transversely extending portions 27a and 28asubtend the second extension flaps 36 and 37 carried by flaps 33 and 34,see FIG. 6.

Because of the inherent fight-back (resistance to folding) of the blankmaterial, flaps 33 and 34 will resiliently engage the side edges offlaps 24 and 25. In addition, the end portions 27a and 28a of the flaps27 and 28 snugly engage the underside of folded flaps 36 and 37. Thus,an. effective inter-locking of the flaps forming the shadow box endconfiguration is attained.

Once the one end is formed, the pro-duct to be accommodated is thenplaced into the receptacle from the other end so that it engages thefolded extension flaps 27, 28, 36 and 37. It will be noted in FIG. thatthe foldlines 26 and 35 cooperate to delimit an opening of reduceddimensions whereby exposure of the accommodated product is obtained.

Once the product has been positioned against the first formed end, theopposite end of the receptacle is either likewise formed into a shadowbox configuration or the end is closed by folding into overlappingrelation in a conventional manner the end closure flaps 38, 40, 41 and42 as provided on the modified blank 43, shown in FIG. 10. Where asecond shadow box end configuration is formed, when utilizing blank 11,the accommodated product, not shown, is readily observable from bothfront and rear. In instances where the accommodated product istransparent or partially transparent, the receptacle permits light raysto pass therethrough and thus, presents an eye-catching and appealingpackage.

The dimensions of the various wall panels and flaps may be varied fromthat shown so as to more effectively accommodate a particular product.The extent to which the reduced opening for observing the product isrecessed from the end of the receptacle may also be varied so as topresent the accommodated product in its most advantageous condition.

Where the accommodated product is a tube, bottle or the like, thefoldline 35 connecting flaps 33 and 36 and/or 34 and 37 may be providedwith cut-outs of suitable shape C (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 10). Aportion of each cut-out would extend into both of the foldably connectedflaps.

Thus, a simple yet sturdy folding receptacle has been provided which maybe readily folded either manually or by automatic equipment, or mayassume a collapsed condition when not in use. The improved receptacledoes not rely upon the accommodated product to retain the end flaps ininterlocking relation.

I claim:

1. A blank of foldable sheet material for use in forming a tubularmember having a shadow box configuration on at least one end thereof,said blank comprising two pairs of wall panels, the panels of said pairsbeing alternately arranged and foldably interconnected in side-bysiderelation; first flaps having inner edges thereof foldably connected toend-forming edges of a first pair of wall panels, side edges of eachfirst flap extending convergently outwardly from the wall panel to whichit is connected and terminating in a shortened outer edge; a firstextension fiap foldably connected to the shortened outer edge of eachfirst flap, said extension flap having a lateral dimension substantiallycoextensive with the edge of the wall panel to which said first flap isconnected; laterally extending tabs foldably connected to opposite endsof each first extension flap; second flaps having inner edges foldablyconnected to the corresponding end-forming edges of the second pair ofwall panels, each second flap having the sides thereof extendingconvergently outwardly from the wall panel to which it is connected andterminating in a shortened outer edge; a second extension flap foldablyconnected to the shortened outer edge of said second flap; said firstflaps and the extension flaps and tabs connected thereto having thecorresponding ends thereof spaced endwise from the adjacentcorresponding ends of said second flap and the extension flap connectedthereto.

2. The blank of claim 1 including a second set of like first flaps withlike first extension flaps and tabs connected thereto foldably connectedto the edges of said first pair of wall panels defining the opposite endof said tubular member; and a second set of like second flaps with likesecond extension flaps connected thereto foldably connected to the edgesof said second pair of wall panels defining said opposite end of saidtubular member.

3. The blank of claim 1 including a manufacturer's glue flap foldablyconnected to a side edge of one of the endmost wall panels.

4. The blank of claim 1 including end closure fiaps foldably connectedto the edges of the wall panels defining the opposite end of saidtubular member.

5. The blank of claim 1 wherein the inner edges of said first and secondflaps are substantially coextensive with the edges of the wall panels towhich they are foldably connected.

6. The blank of claim 1 wherein each first extension flap has endportions which extend longitudinally from opposite ends of the foldingconnection between said first flap and said first extension flap, eachof said end portions having a transverse projection extending inwardlyalong but separated from the adjacent convergent side edge of said firstflap.

7. A folding receptacle having at least one end thereof provided with ashadow box configuration, said receptacle comprising foldably connectedopposed wall panels having the corresponding edges thereof delimitingsaid one end; first flaps foldably connected to the end-forming edges offirst opposed wall panels, said first flaps extending convergentlyinwardly towards one another whereby the corresponding outer edge ofeach first fiap is recessed from the edges of said wall panelsdelimiting said receptacle one end; first extension flaps foldablyconnected to the outer edges of said first flaps, each first extensionflap being folded outwardly towards the adjacent first Wall panel, eachfirst extension flap spanning the distance between second opposed wallpanels, the ends of each first extension flap being in frictionalengagement with the interior surfaces of second opposed wall panels,second flaps foldably connected to the end-forming edges of said secondopposed wall panels, said second flaps extending convergently inwardlytowards one another whereby the corresponding outer edge of each secondflap is recessed from the edges of said wall panels delimiting saidreceptacle one end; second extension flaps foldably connected to theouter edges of said second flaps, each second extension flap beingfolded outwardly towards the adjacent second Wall panel; the side edgesof each second flap being lockingly engaged behind the side edges of theadjacent first flaps, and end portions of said second extension flapsbeing subtended by said first extension flaps.

8. The receptacle of claim 7 wherein the end thereof opposite saidshadow box configured end is formed by a plurality of closure flapsdisposed in overlapping relation, said closure flaps being foldablyconnected to said wall panels.

9. The receptacle of claim 7 wherein the end thereof opposite saidshadow box configured end is of a shadow box configuration of likeconstruction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,274 12/1964 Burt206----45.33 3,363,748 1/1968 Hood 206-4533 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 229-40

